JP2021009567A - Information processing device, device control method and driver program - Google Patents

Abstract

To facilitate an operation when an arbitrary device in a pull-print system is caused to execute a job.SOLUTION: An information processing device includes: a device information obtaining unit 53 that obtains first device information representing the function of a first image formation device, and second device information representing the function of a second image formation device; a job generating unit 55 which generates, on the basis of the first device information, a first job executable by the first image formation device and which generates, on the basis of the second device information, a second job executable by the second image formation device in accordance with a received user command to generate the job; and a storing unit 57 that stores the first job and the second job in storing means in such a way that the first image formation device and the second image formation device can obtain the respective jobs.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

The present invention relates to an information processing device, a device control method, and a driver program, and more particularly to an information processing device capable of controlling a plurality of image forming devices having different functions, a device control method executed by the information processing device, and a device control method thereof. Regarding the driver program that causes the computer to execute.

A pull print system used in an environment in which a plurality of image forming devices represented by an MFP are connected to a network is known. The pull print system is a system in which a print job generated by a PC is temporarily stored in a server or the like, and when a user operates an arbitrary MFP, the MFP acquires a print job from the server and prints it.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-158946 is a pull printing system including a data processing device and one or more printing devices communicably connected to the data processing device, wherein the printing device is pulled by a user. It has an input means for inputting a print request and a printing means for executing a print job received from the data processing device to print an image on a recording medium, and the data processing device has any of the printing. Does the print setting of the print job stored in the predetermined job storage means match the print function of the printing device to which the pull print request is input, provided that the pull print request is input by the device? It is a determination means for determining whether or not, and a control means for transmitting the print job to the printing device. If the determination means determines that they do not match, the print job is not transmitted or the print job is printed. A pull print system is described that has control means for modifying and transmitting settings.

However, in the pull print system described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-158946, when the pull print request does not match the printing function of the printing device, the print job is not transmitted, so that the print job is not executed by the printing device and printing is performed. Since the print settings of the job are modified, the print result desired by the user cannot be obtained. In this way, when the functions are different in a plurality of printing devices, there is a problem that a print job that can be executed in one printing device cannot be executed in another printing device, or the printing result desired by the user cannot be obtained. is there.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-158946

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and one of the objects of the present invention is that a job can be executed from any of a plurality of image forming devices having different functions in a pull print system. It is to provide an information processing device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device control method capable of executing a job from any of a plurality of image forming devices having different functions in a pull print system.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a driver program capable of executing a job from any of a plurality of image forming devices having different functions in a pull print system.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to an aspect of the present invention, the information processing apparatus is a first apparatus information indicating a function possessed by the first image forming apparatus and a second apparatus indicating a function possessed by the second image forming apparatus. In response to the device information acquisition means for acquiring information and the user's instruction to generate a job, the first image forming apparatus generates a first job that can be executed based on the first device information, and the first job is generated. 2 A job generation means for generating a second job that can be executed by the second image forming apparatus based on the device information, and a state in which the first image forming apparatus and the second image forming apparatus can acquire the first job and the second job. It is provided with a storage means for storing in the storage means.

According to this aspect, in response to the user's instruction to generate a job, the first job is generated based on the first device information, the second job is generated based on the second device information, and the second job is generated. The first job and the second job are stored in a state in which the first image forming apparatus and the second image forming apparatus can be acquired. Therefore, the first image forming apparatus can acquire and execute the first job, and the second image forming apparatus can acquire and execute the second job. Therefore, the user can execute the job in either the first image forming apparatus or the second image forming apparatus. As a result, it is possible to provide an information processing device capable of executing a job from any of a plurality of image forming devices having different functions in the pull print system.

Preferably, the print condition receiving means for receiving the print condition for generating the print job is further provided, and the print condition receiving means is an image processing that can be executed by the first image forming apparatus and cannot be executed by the second image forming apparatus. It is possible to accept the print condition that defines the partially impossible process, and the job generation means detects the partially impossible process based on the first device information and the second device information, and executes the processed data that has executed the partially impossible process. The generated first job includes pre-processed data before the partially non-processable process is executed according to the print conditions, and the second job includes processed data.

According to this aspect, the partial non-processing is detected based on the first device information and the second device information, the processed data in which the partial non-processing is executed is generated, and before the partial non-processing is executed according to the printing conditions. A first job including pre-processed data and a second job including processed data are generated. Therefore, the first image forming apparatus and the second image forming apparatus become the first image forming apparatus and the second image forming apparatus when the printing condition which defines the partially impossible processing which is the image processing which can be executed by the 1st image forming apparatus but cannot be performed by the 2nd image forming apparatus is accepted. You can run the job with either of.

Preferably, the non-partial process includes a page editing process that changes the order of the images on a plurality of pages.

According to this aspect, when the partially non-functional processing is the page editing processing, the second image forming apparatus in which the page editing processing cannot be executed can form the image on which the page editing processing is executed.

Preferably, the non-partially processed process includes an image conversion process that transforms an image.

According to this aspect, when the partially impossible processing is the image conversion processing, the second image forming apparatus in which the image conversion processing cannot be executed can form the image on which the image conversion processing is executed.

Preferably, the print condition receiving means can accept the print condition that defines the common impossibility process that is the image processing that neither the first image forming apparatus nor the second image forming apparatus can perform, and the job generating means is Based on the first device information and the second device information, the common non-processing is detected, and the pre-processing data is generated by executing the common non-processing.

According to this aspect, the common non-processing is detected based on the first device information and the second device information, and preprocessing data in which the common non-processing is executed is generated. Therefore, the first image forming apparatus and the second image forming apparatus are used when the printing conditions that define the common impossibility processing, which is an infeasible image processing in both the first image forming apparatus and the second image forming apparatus, are accepted. It is possible to form an image in which common non-processing is executed by any of the above.

Preferably, the job generating means detects the partially non-functional processing based on the storage capacity available to perform the image processing performed according to the printing conditions.

According to this aspect, the partially impossible processing is detected based on the storage capacity available for executing the image processing executed according to the printing conditions, so that the partially impossible processing can be easily detected.

Preferably, the storage means is provided in any of a first image forming apparatus, a second image forming apparatus, a first image forming apparatus, and a server communicably connected to the second image forming apparatus.

According to this aspect, the first image forming apparatus and the second image forming apparatus can store the first job and the second job in a state in which they can be acquired.

Preferably, the printer driver program corresponding to all of the first image forming apparatus and the second image forming apparatus is installed.

According to this aspect, it is possible to accept unexecutable printing conditions at least one of the first image forming apparatus and the second image forming apparatus.

Preferably, the storage means stores the first job in association with the first device identification information for identifying the first image forming device, and stores the second job in association with the second device identification for identifying the second image forming device. Store information in association with each other.

According to this aspect, the first image forming apparatus can acquire the first job from the first job and the second job, and the second image forming apparatus acquires the second job from the first job and the second job. it can.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the device control method acquires device information for acquiring first device information indicating a function of the first image forming device and second device information indicating a function of the second image forming device. In response to the step and the instruction to generate the job by the user, the first image forming apparatus generates the first job that can be executed based on the first apparatus information, and the first job is generated based on the second apparatus information. 2 A job generation step for generating a second job that can be executed by the image forming apparatus, and storage of the first job and the second job in the storage means in a state in which the first image forming apparatus and the second image forming apparatus can acquire the second job. Let the information processing device execute the steps.

According to this aspect, it is possible to provide a device control method capable of executing a job from any of a plurality of image forming devices having different functions in the pull print system.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, the driver program acquires device information for acquiring first device information indicating the function of the first image forming device and second device information indicating the function of the second image forming device. In response to the step and the instruction to generate the job by the user, the first image forming apparatus generates the first job that can be executed based on the first apparatus information, and the first job is generated based on the second apparatus information. 2 A job generation step for generating a second job that can be executed by the image forming apparatus, and storage of the first job and the second job in the storage means in a state in which the first image forming apparatus and the second image forming apparatus can acquire the second job. Let the computer perform the steps.

According to this aspect, it is possible to provide a driver program capable of executing a job from any of a plurality of image forming devices having different functions in the pull print system.

It is a figure which shows the whole outline of the pull print system in one of the Embodiments of this invention. It is a figure which shows the flow of data in the pull print system in this embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the appearance of the MFP. It is a block diagram which shows the outline of the hardware structure of the MFP. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the hardware configuration of a PC. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the function which a CPU included in a PC has. It is a figure which shows an example of the format of the 1st job. It is a figure which shows an example of the format of the 2nd job. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of a device control process.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts are designated by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are the same. Therefore, the detailed description of them will not be repeated.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall outline of a pull print system according to one of the embodiments of the present invention. With reference to FIG. 1, the pull print system 1 includes a multifunction device (hereinafter referred to as “MFP”) 100A, 100B, 100C functioning as an image processing device, a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as “PC”) 200, and printing. Includes server 300 and. The MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) 100A, 100B, 100C, PC200, and the print server 300 are connected to the network 3.

The network 3 is a local area network (LAN), and the connection form may be wired or wireless. Further, the network 3 is not limited to the LAN, and may be a wide area network (WAN), a public switched telephone network (PSTN), the Internet, or the like.

The MFPs 100A, 100B, and 100C function as an image forming apparatus. The MFPs 100A, 100B, and 100C may have the same or different functions, but basically, they have an image forming function for forming an image on paper such as paper based on image data. At least include. The MFPs 100A, 100B, and 100C have an image reading function that reads a document and outputs image data, an image processing function that processes image data, a post-processing function that punches holes in paper after image formation, sort processing, and the like, and facsimile. It may further include at least one of the transmission / reception functions. The functions of the MFPs 100A, 100B, and 100C may not be the same, but here, a case where the functions of the MFP100A and the functions of the MFP100B and the MFP100C are different will be described as an example.

The PC 200 and the print server 300 are general computers. In the pull print system 1 of the present embodiment, the print job generated by the PC 200 is temporarily stored in the print server 300, and the print job is executed by any of the MFPs 100A, 100B, and 100C, that is, so-called pull print. Is executed. Here, the outline of the functions of the PC 200, the print server 300, and the MFP 100A when executing the pull print will be described.

Note that FIG. 1 shows a case where the pull print system 1 includes three MFPs 100A, 100B, and 100C, but the number is not limited, and two or more systems may be used. Further, the pull print system 1 includes one PC 200, but the number is not limited, and one or more PCs may be used.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a data flow in the pull print system according to the present embodiment. With reference to FIG. 2, the vertical axis is the time axis, and time elapses from top to bottom. Further, the processing flow of the PC 200, the print server 300, and the MFP 100 is shown in order from the left. Since the processing of the MFP 100A, 100B, and 100C are all the same, the processing flow of the MFP 100A is shown here as an example.

In the pull print system 1, the PC 200 activates the printer driver (P1). The printer driver started here is a printer driver corresponding to all of the MFPs 100A, 100B, and 100C, and is pre-installed in the PC200. For example, the printer driver is activated when a print instruction is input by the user while the PC 200 is executing the application program.

Then, the PC 200 requests device information from each of the MFPs 100A, 100B, and 100C (P2). This request is sent, for example, by broadcast. When each of the MFPs 100A, 100B, and 100C receives a request from the PC200 (M1), it returns the device information (M2).

The PC 200 receives device information transmitted from each of the MFPs 100A, 100B, and 100C (P3). Then, the PC 200 displays the print setting screen (P4), accepts the print conditions set by the user according to the print setting screen (P5), and generates a print job (P6). The PC 200 generates a print job for forming an image of drawing data to be printed according to printing conditions. The drawing data is generated and output by a task in which the PC 200 executes an application program. The PC 200 in the present embodiment generates a plurality of print jobs so that any of the MFPs 100A, 100B, and 100C can be executed. The details of generating a plurality of print jobs will be described later, but a plurality of print jobs that can be executed by a plurality of devices having different functions are generated. For each of the plurality of print jobs, a command for causing the device to execute the function is described in the header. Therefore, the commands described in the headers of a plurality of print jobs are different. The plurality of print jobs are transmitted to the print server 300 (P7).

The print server 300 receives the print job from the PC 200 (B1) and stores the print job in a storage device such as an HDD (B2).

In the MFP100A, when the user logs in (M3), the job list is requested from the print server 300 (M4). The MFP100A detects a login when a user ID is input to the operation panel by the user. Further, the MFP 100A detects the login of the user when it becomes possible to communicate with the information terminal or IC card carried by the user. When the print server 300 receives the request from the MFP 100A (B3), the print server 300 transmits the job list to the MFP 100A (B4). The job list is a list of print jobs stored in the print server 300, and includes job identification information for identifying the print job and a header of the print job. In addition, all the print jobs stored in the print server 300 may be transmitted. Further, if the user identification information for identifying the user who has instructed to generate the print job is set in the print job, the print job in which the user identification information of the logged-in user is set may be sent.

The MFP 100A receives the job list transmitted from the print server 300 (M5) and determines the job (M6). Specifically, it is determined whether or not the command described in the header is a command that executes a function that can be executed by the MFP 100A. Then, the job list including the job identification information of the header in which the command for executing the function that can be executed by the MFP 100A is described is displayed (M7). Further, when a plurality of job identification information having the same part exists and a command for executing a function that can be executed by the MFP100A is described in the header, the job in the header with the smallest number of commands is described. Add the identification information to the job list. The MFP accepts job selection (M8). Specifically, the MFP 100A receives an instruction by the user to select any of the job identification information included in the job list. Then, a print job is requested from the print server 300 (M9). The print server 300 transmits the requested print job (B6).

When the MFP 100A receives the print job transmitted from the print server 300 (M10), the MFP 100A executes the print job (M11).

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the MFP. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an outline of the hardware configuration of the MFP. With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the MFP 100A includes a main circuit 110, a document reading unit 130 for reading a document, an automatic document transporting device 120 for transporting a document to the document reading unit 130, and a document reading unit. An image was formed with an image forming unit 140 for forming an image on paper or the like based on image data output by 130 reading a document, and a feeding unit 150 for supplying paper to the image forming unit 140. It includes a post-processing unit 155 that processes paper and an operation panel 160 as a user interface.

The post-processing unit 155 executes a sorting process for rearranging and ejecting one or more sheets on which an image is formed by the image forming unit 140, a punching process for punching holes, and a staple processing for driving staples.

The main circuit 110 is equipped with a CPU 111, a communication interface (I / F) unit 112, a ROM 113, a RAM 114, a hard disk drive (HDD) 115 as a large-capacity storage device, a facsimile unit 116, and a CD-ROM 118. The external storage device 117 and the short-range wireless communication unit 119 are included. The CPU 111 is connected to the automatic document transfer device 120, the document reading unit 130, the image forming unit 140, the paper feeding unit 150, the post-processing unit 155, and the operation panel 160, and controls the entire MFP 100A.

The ROM 113 stores a program executed by the CPU 111 or data necessary for executing the program. The RAM 114 is used as a work area when the CPU 111 executes a program. Further, the RAM 114 temporarily stores the reading data (image data) continuously sent from the document reading unit 130.

The operation panel 160 is provided on the upper surface of the MFP 100A and includes a display unit 161 and an operation unit 163. The display unit 161 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organic ELD (Electro-Luminence Display), and displays an instruction menu for the user, information on acquired image data, and the like. The operation unit 163 includes a hard key unit 167 composed of a plurality of keys, and receives various instructions, characters, numbers, and other data input by the user's operation corresponding to the keys. The operation unit 163 further includes a touch panel 165 provided on the display unit 161.

The communication I / F unit 112 is an interface for connecting the MFP 100A to the network 3. The CPU 111 communicates with the PC 200 via the communication I / F unit 112 to transmit and receive data. Further, the communication I / F unit 112 can communicate with a computer connected to the Internet via the network 3.

The facsimile unit 116 is connected to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and transmits facsimile data to or receives facsimile data from the PSTN. The facsimile unit 116 stores the received facsimile data in the HDD 115 or outputs the received facsimile data to the image forming unit 140. The image forming unit 140 prints the facsimile data received by the facsimile unit 116 on paper. Further, the facsimile unit 116 converts the data stored in the HDD 115 into facsimile data and transmits the data to the facsimile apparatus connected to the PSTN.

The short-range wireless communication unit 119 wirelessly communicates with a device whose distance from the MFP 100A is within a predetermined distance based on GAP (Generic Access Profile) of the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard. The predetermined distance is not particularly limited, but is several cm to ten and several cm.

A CD-ROM (Compact Disc ROM) 118 is attached to the external storage device 117. The CPU 111 can access the CD-ROM 118 via the external storage device 117. The CPU 111 loads the program recorded in the CD-ROM 118 mounted on the external storage device 117 into the RAM 114 and executes the program. The medium for storing the program executed by the CPU 111 is not limited to the CD-ROM118, but is an optical disk (MO (Magnetic Optical Disc) / MD (Mini Disc) / DVD (Digital Versaille Disc)), an IC card, an optical card, and the like. It may be a semiconductor memory such as a mask ROM or an EPROM (Erasable Program ROM).

Further, the program executed by the CPU 111 is not limited to the program recorded in the CD-ROM 118, and the program stored in the HDD 115 may be loaded into the RAM 114 and executed. In this case, another computer connected to the network 3 may rewrite the program stored in the HDD 115 of the MFP 100A, or add a new program and write it. Further, the MFP 100A may download the program from another computer connected to the network 3 and store the program in the HDD 115. The program referred to here includes not only a program that can be directly executed by the CPU 111, but also a source program, a compressed program, an encrypted program, and the like.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the PC. With reference to FIG. 5, each PC 200 is connected to the bus 208 and is used as a work area of the CPU 201 for controlling the entire PC 200, the ROM 202 for storing the program executed by the CPU 201, and the like. The RAM 203, the network I / F 204 for connecting the PC 200 to the network 3, the HDD 205 as a large-capacity storage device, the display unit 206, the operation unit 207 that accepts the input of the user's operation, the external storage device 209, and so on. including.

The external storage device 209 is equipped with a CD-ROM (Compact Disc-ROM) 209A that stores the driver program. The CPU 201 loads the driver program stored in the CD-ROM 209A into the RAM 203 via the external storage device 209 and executes the driver program. The recording medium for storing the driver program is not limited to the CD-ROM 209A, but is a flexible disk, cassette tape, optical disk (MO / MD / DVD), IC card, optical card, mask ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, or other semiconductor memory. It may be. Further, the driver program stored in the HDD 205 may be loaded into the RAM 203 and executed. In this case, the PC 200 may download the driver program from another computer connected to the network 3 and store the driver program in the HDD 205. The program referred to here includes not only a program that can be directly executed by the CPU 201, but also a source program, a compressed program, an encrypted program, and the like.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of the functions of the CPU included in the PC. The function shown in FIG. 6 is realized by the CPU 201 included in the PC 200 by executing the driver program stored in the ROM 202, the HDD 205, or the CD-ROM 209A. With reference to FIG. 6, the CPU 201 includes a print condition reception unit 51, a device information acquisition unit 53, a job generation unit 55, and a storage unit 57.

The device information acquisition unit 53 acquires device information for each of the MFPs 100A, 100B, and 100C. The device information is information indicating the functions of the MFPs 100A, 100B, and 100C, respectively. Functions include functions realized programmatically. The functions realized by the program include, for example, image processing. The image processing includes, for example, an image conversion process for converting an image and a page editing process for changing the order of images on a plurality of pages. The image conversion process includes image shift processing that translates the position where the image is formed, image quality adjustment processing that changes the image quality of the image, watermark addition processing that adds a watermark to the image, and the date and time in the header and / or footer. Includes header footer processing to add page numbers. The page editing process includes, for example, a process of combining a plurality of pages into one page and a process of changing the order of pages in order to generate a booklet. In addition, the functions include functions realized by hardware. Features implemented in hardware include, for example, the capacity to store data.

The print condition reception unit 51 displays the print setting screen on the display unit 206, and receives the print condition input by the user to the operation unit 207 according to the print setting screen. The print setting screen is a screen capable of accepting print conditions for executing the function of at least one of the MFPs 100A, 100B, and 100C. Further, the print setting screen is a screen capable of accepting print conditions for executing a function that at least one of the MFPs 100A, 100B, and 100C does not have. Therefore, the print setting screen may be a screen that can accept print conditions for executing a function that none of the MFPs 100A, 100B, and 100C has. The print condition reception unit 51 outputs the print condition to the job generation unit 55.

The job generation unit 55 inputs drawing data to be printed from a task in which the CPU 201 executes an application program. The job generation unit 55 generates a job for printing the drawing data according to the printing conditions. The job generation unit 55 includes a common non-processing detection unit 61, a pre-processing data generation unit 63, a partial non-processing detection unit 65, and a processed data generation unit 67.

Based on the device information of the MFPs 100A, 100B, and 100C, the common non-processing detection unit 61 detects the common non-processing that cannot be executed by any of the MFPs 100A, 100B, and 100C from the processes determined by the printing conditions. The common non-processing is image processing. The common non-processing detection unit 61 may detect common non-processing based on the presence or absence of hardware resources of each of the MFPs 100A, 100B, and 100C. Image processing includes processing that requires a predetermined storage area while it is being executed. For example, in order to execute the page editing process, a storage area for storing a plurality of pages is required. Therefore, when a predetermined storage area is required to execute the common non-processing, the common non-processing can be detected depending on the presence or absence of the hardware resource having the predetermined recording area.

The pre-processing data generation unit 63 generates pre-processing data by executing common impossible processing on the drawing data. Further, the pre-processing data generation unit 63 changes the print condition accepted by the print condition reception unit 51 to the pre-processing print condition in which the print condition for executing the common non-process is deleted. The pre-processing data generation unit 63 sets the drawing data as the pre-processing data when the common impossible processing is not detected.

The partially non-processable processing detection unit 65 is a process in which at least one of the processes determined by the printing conditions, which is determined by the printing conditions, can be executed based on the device information of the MFPs 100A, 100B, and 100C, and the MFPs 100A, 100B, Detects a partially infeasible process in which at least one of 100C is an infeasible process. Partially impossible processing is image processing. The partially impossible processing detection unit 65 may detect the partially impossible processing based on the presence or absence of the hardware resources of the MFPs 100A, 100B, and 100C. When a predetermined storage area is required to execute the partial non-processing, the partial non-processing can be detected depending on the presence or absence of a hardware resource having the predetermined recording area.

The processed data generation unit 67 generates the processed data by executing the partial non-processing on the pre-processed data. Further, the processed data generation unit 67 changes the pre-processing print condition to the processed print condition in which the print condition for executing the partially non-processable process is deleted. The pre-processing print condition is a pre-processing print condition when the common non-process is detected, and is a print condition accepted by the print condition reception unit 51 when the common non-process is not detected.

The job generation unit 55 generates a first job including pre-processing print conditions and pre-processing data. In addition, a second job including the processed print condition and the processed data is generated. The job generation unit 55 outputs the first job and the second job to the storage unit 57. The first job is a print job that can be executed by a device having a function of executing the partially impossible process, but is an unexecutable print job of a device having no function of executing the partially impossible process. Further, the second job is a print job that can be executed by all devices regardless of whether or not the partially non-processable process can be executed. When the job generation unit 55 generates the first job and the second job, a part of the job identification information for identifying them is made the same. For example, the job generation unit 55 makes the first predetermined number of characters of the job identification information the same. For example, when a file name is assigned to the drawing data input from the task that executes the application program, the name with the branch number added to the file name is set in the job identification information. Thereby, the pair of the first job and the second job can be distinguished from other jobs.

The storage unit 57 stores the first job and the second job in a state in which each of the MFPs 100A, 100B, and 100C can acquire them. Specifically, the storage unit 57 transmits the first job and the second job to the print server 300, and requests the print server 300 to store the first job and the second job. The print server 300 stores the first job and the second job in a recording medium such as an HDD in a state in which a reply can be made in response to a request from any of the MFPs 100A, 100B, and 100C.

The print server 300 deletes the first job and the second job when a predetermined condition is satisfied after the first job and the second job are stored. The predetermined condition may be the occurrence of an event in which either the first job or the second job is acquired by any of the MFPs 100A, 100B, and 100C. The predetermined conditions can be arbitrarily determined. The predetermined condition may be, for example, an event in which a predetermined time elapses after the first job and the second job are stored. Further, the predetermined condition is that a predetermined time has elapsed since the first job and the second job were stored without any of the first job and the second job being acquired by any of the MFPs 100A, 100B, and 100C. It may be an event to be performed. As a result, the first job and the second job do not remain stored in the print server 300, and the stored resources can be effectively used.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the format of the first job. With reference to FIG. 7, the first job includes a header, pre-processing data, and a footer. In the header, a command that causes the device to execute the function is described. Here, the command is described in PJL (Printer Job Language). The command contains print conditions for performing the function.
In the first job, a PJL for executing the function 1 and the function 2 is described in the header. Function 1 indicates a function of executing a page editing process, and function 2 indicates a function of printing. Therefore, when the first job is executed, the page editing process is executed on the pre-processing data, and the image of the data after the page editing process is executed is printed.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the format of the second job. With reference to FIG. 8, the second job includes a header, processed data, and a footer. In the second job, the PJL that executes the function 2 is described in the header.

The PJL that causes the first job to execute function 1 and function 2 is described in the header, while the PJL that causes the second job to execute function 2 is described in the header, but the PJL that executes function 1 is not described. .. Further, while the first job includes pre-processing data, the second job includes post-processing data. Therefore, when the second job is executed, the image of the processed data is printed. The post-processing data is data after the page editing process is executed on the pre-processing data in the PC 200. Therefore, the image formed on the paper on which the first job is executed and output is the same as the image formed on the paper on which the second job is executed and output.

Next, the device control process executed by the PC 200 will be described. Here, for the sake of explanation, a case where the MFP 100A has a function of executing the page editing process and the MFP 100B and the MFP 100C do not have the function of executing the page editing process will be described as an example. Further, a case where none of the MFPs 100A, 100B, and 100C has a function of executing the image conversion process will be described as an example.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of device control processing. The device control process is a process executed by the CPU 201 when the CPU 201 included in the PC 200 executes a driver program stored in the ROM 202, HDD 205, or CD-ROM 209A. Further, the CPU 201 included in the PC 200 is executing the application program, and the driver program is started by the task of the CPU 201 executing the application program.

With reference to FIG. 9, the CPU 201 included in the PC 200 acquires device information (step S01), and proceeds to the process in step S02. Specifically, the network I / F204 is controlled to request device information, and the device receiving the request receives the device information returned. Here, device information is received from each of the MFPs 100A, 100B, and 100C. Further, the PC 200 may receive device information transmitted by the MFPs 100A, 100B, and 100C at arbitrary timings. The device information is information indicating the functions of the MFPs 100A, 100B, and 100C, respectively. Functions include image processing. Here, a case where the image processing includes a page editing process and an image conversion process will be described as an example.

The print condition is accepted in step S02, and the process proceeds to step S03. The state waits until the print condition is accepted (NO in step S02), and if the print condition is accepted (YES in step S02), the process proceeds to step S03. The print setting screen is displayed on the display unit 206, and the print conditions input by the user to the operation unit 207 are accepted. The print setting screen is a screen capable of accepting print conditions for executing a function that at least one of the MFPs 100A, 100B, and 100C does not have. The MFP100B and MFP100C do not have the function of executing the page editing process, but the MFP100A has. Therefore, the print setting screen includes an area in which the user sets print conditions for executing the page editing process. The print setting screen is a screen capable of accepting print conditions for executing the function of at least one of the MFPs 100A, 100B, and 100C. Therefore, the print setting screen is a screen capable of accepting print conditions for executing a function that none of the MFPs 100A, 100B, and 100C has. None of the MFPs 100A, 100B, and 100C has a function of executing image conversion processing. Therefore, the print setting screen includes an area in which the user sets print conditions for executing the image conversion process.

In step S03, drawing data is acquired, and the process proceeds to step S04. The drawing data is the data to be printed and is output from the task of executing the application program.

In the next step S04, the device information of each of the MFPs 100A, 100B, and 100C is compared, and the process proceeds to step S05. Specifically, the functions of the MFPs 100A, 100B, and 100C are compared. Thereby, the functions possessed by all the devices, the functions possessed by some devices but not possessed by other devices, and the functions possessed by all the devices are determined.

In step S05, it is determined whether or not there is a common impossible process in the print conditions. If there is a common non-process, the process proceeds to step S06, otherwise the process proceeds to step S08. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the print conditions for executing the functions that all the devices do not have are set in the print conditions. The process executed by the function that all the devices do not have is determined as the common non-process. Here, when the print condition accepts the print condition for executing the image conversion process, the image conversion process is determined to be a common non-probable process.

In step S06, the common impossible process is executed, and the process proceeds to step S07. Specifically, the image conversion process is executed on the drawing data according to the print conditions corresponding to the image conversion process included in the print conditions. In step S07, the data in which the image conversion process is executed is set as the pre-process data in the drawing data, and the process proceeds to step S09.

On the other hand, in step S08, the drawing data is set as the pre-processing data, and the processing proceeds to step S09.

In step S09, the first job is generated, and the process proceeds to step S10. Specifically, the CPU 201 changes the print condition accepted in step S02 to the pre-processing print condition in which the print condition for executing the image conversion process is deleted. The first job includes pre-processing print conditions and pre-processing data.

In step S10, the first job is stored, and the process proceeds to step S11. Specifically, the CPU 201 controls the network I / F 204 to send the first job to the print server 300, and requests the print server 300 to store the first job. As a result, the print server 300 stores the first job in a recording medium such as an HDD in a state in which it can reply in response to a request from any of the MFPs 100A, 100B, and 100C.

In step S11, it is determined whether or not there is a partial non-processing in the printing conditions. If the partially non-processable process exists, the process proceeds to step S12, but if not, the process ends. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the print conditions for executing the functions possessed by some devices but not possessed by other devices are set in the print conditions. A process executed by a function possessed by some devices but not possessed by another device is determined to be a partially non-functional process. Here, when the print condition for executing the page edit process is accepted as the print condition, the page edit process is determined to be partially non-processable. It should be noted that it may be determined whether or not the partially impossible process exists by determining whether or not the HDD 115 is provided as the storage area required for executing the page editing process. For example, when the MFP 100A includes the HDD 115 but the MFPs 100B and 100C do not include the HDD 115, the MFP 100A has a storage area required for executing the page editing process, but the MFPs 100B and 100C do not have the storage area. The same applies when the MFPs 100B and 100C include the HDD 115 but do not have a storage area of a size required for executing the page editing process. Therefore, the MFP 100A is determined to be able to execute the page editing process, the MFPs 100B and 100C are determined to be unable to execute the page editing process, and the page editing process is determined to be partially non-executable.

In step S12, the partially impossible process is executed, and the process proceeds to step S13. Specifically, the page editing process is executed on the pre-processing data according to the printing conditions corresponding to the page editing process included in the print condition. In step S13, the data for which the page editing process has been executed is set as the processed data in the preprocessed data, and the process proceeds to step S13.

In step S14, the second job is generated, and the process proceeds to step S15. Specifically, if step S06 is not executed, the print condition accepted in step S02 is executed, if step S06 is executed, the pre-processing print condition determined in step S09 is executed, and then the page editing process is executed. Change the print condition of to the deleted print condition after processing. The second job includes post-processing print conditions and processed data.

In step S15, the second job is stored and the process ends. Specifically, the CPU 201 controls the network I / F 204 to send the second job to the print server 300, and requests the print server 300 to store the second job. As a result, the print server 300 stores the second job in a recording medium such as an HDD in a state in which it can reply in response to a request from any of the MFPs 100A, 100B, and 100C.

<Modification example>
In the above-described embodiment, each of the first job and the second job includes a command indicating a function in the header. However, the first job is associated with the first device identification information for identifying the MFP 100A, and the first job is associated with the first device identification information. The second device identification information for identifying each of the MFPs 100B and 100C may be associated with the two jobs.

For example, the storage unit 57 stores the first job in association with the first device identification information for identifying the MFP 100A, and stores the second job in association with the second device identification information for identifying the MFPs 100B and 100C. .. Specifically, the CPU 201 prints the first job in which the device identification information of the MFP 100A is added to the file name and the second job of the file name in which the device identification information of the MFP 100B and the device identification information of the MFP 100C are added. Store in 300. Further, instead of the second job with the file name to which the device identification information of the MFP 100B and the device identification information of the MFP 100C are added, the second job with the file name to which the device identification information of the MFP 100B is added and the device identification information of the MFP 100C are added. The second job with the file name may be stored in the print server 300.

As described above, the PC 200 in the present embodiment functions as an information processing device that controls the MFPs 100A, 100B, and 100C, and forms the first device information and the second image, which are the device information of the first image forming device, the MFP 100A. The first job that the MFP 100A can execute is performed based on the first device information in response to the acquisition of the second device information that is the device information of the devices MFP 100B and 100C and the instruction to generate the job by the user. The HDD of the print server 300 is generated, and the second job that can be executed by each of the MFPs 100B and 100C is generated based on the second device information, and the first job and the second job can be acquired by the MFPs 100A and the MFPs 100B and 100C. Store in. Therefore, the MFP 100A can acquire and execute the first job, and each of the MFP 100B and 100C can acquire and execute the second job. Therefore, the user can execute the job on any of the MFPs 100A, 100B, and 100C. As a result, in the pull print system 1, the job can be executed from any of the MFPs 100A, 100B, and 100C having different functions.

Further, the PC200 can accept printing conditions that define partially improbable processing, which is a page editing process that can be executed by the MFP 100A and cannot be executed by the MFPs 100B and 100C, and the printing conditions are based on the device information of the MFPs 100A, 100B, and 100C. When the page edit process is detected in, the processed data in which the page edit process, which is a partially immutable process, is executed is generated in the drawing data. Then, the PC 200 generates a first job including pre-processing data and a second job including processed data before the partial non-processing is executed according to the printing conditions. Therefore, when the print condition that defines the page editing process that can be executed by the MFP 100A but cannot be executed by the MFP 100B, 100C is accepted, the image in which the page editing process is executed by any of the MFP 100A, 100B, 100C is formed. Can be done.

Further, the partially non-functional processing includes a page editing process for changing the order of images on a plurality of pages. Therefore, when the partially non-functional processing is the page editing processing, the MFPs 100B and 100C that cannot execute the page editing processing can form an image in which the page editing processing is executed.

In addition, the partially non-functional processing includes an image conversion process for converting an image. Therefore, when the partially non-functional processing is the image conversion processing, the MFPs 100B and 100C that cannot execute the image conversion processing can form an image in which the image conversion processing is executed.

Further, the PC 200 can accept printing conditions that define an image conversion process, which is an image process that cannot be executed by any of the MFPs 100A, 100B, and 100C. Then, the PC 200 detects the common non-processing based on the device information of each of the MFPs 100A, 100B, and 100C, and generates the pre-processing data by executing the common non-processing. Therefore, when the print condition that defines the image conversion process that cannot be executed by any of the MFPs 100A, 100B, and 100C is accepted, the image in which the image conversion process is executed by any of the MFPs 100A, 100B, and 100C is formed. Can be done.

Further, whether or not the PC200 can execute the page editing process for each of the MFPs 100A, 100B, and 100C based on the presence or absence of free space on the HDD that can be used to execute the page editing process executed according to the printing conditions. To judge. Therefore, whether or not the page editing process is partially disabled is determined based on the storage capacity available for executing the page editing process executed according to the print conditions, so that the partially disabled process can be easily detected. can do.

Further, the storage destinations of the first job and the second job are provided in any of the MFP 100A, 100B, 100C and the print server 300. Therefore, the MFPs 100A, 100B, and 100C can store the first job and the second job in a state in which they can be acquired.

Further, a printer driver program corresponding to all of the MFPs 100A, 100B, and 100C is installed in the PC200. Therefore, the PC 200 can accept printing conditions that cannot be executed by at least one of the MFPs 100A, 100B, and 100C.

Further, the PC 200 in the modified example associates and stores the first device identification information for identifying the MFP 100A with the first job, and associates the second device identification information for identifying the second image forming device with the second job. And store. Therefore, the MFP 100A can acquire the first job from the first job and the second job, and the MFPs 100B and 100C can acquire the second job from the first job and the second job.

In addition, the image processing includes a process of changing the order of pages in order to generate a booklet.

It should be considered that the embodiments disclosed this time are exemplary in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown by the scope of claims rather than the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of claims.

1 pull print system, 3 networks, 100A, 100B, 100C MFP, 200 PC, 300 print server, 201 CPU, 202 ROM, 203 RAM, 204 network I / F, 205 HDD, 206 display unit, 207 operation unit, 208 bus , 209 external storage device, 209A CD-ROM, 300 print server, 51 print condition reception unit, 53 device information acquisition unit, 55 job generation unit, 57 storage unit, 61 common non-processing detection unit, 63 pre-processing data generation unit, 65 Partially impossible processing detection unit, 67 Processed data generation unit, 73 Post-processing data generation unit.

Claims (11)

A device information acquisition means for acquiring the first device information indicating the function of the first image forming device and the second device information indicating the function of the second image forming device, and
In response to the user's instruction to generate a job, the first image forming apparatus generates a first job that can be executed based on the first device information, and the second device information is used as the basis for generating the first job. A job generation means for generating a second job that can be executed by the second image forming apparatus, and
An information processing device including a storage means for storing the first job and the second job in a storage means in a state in which the first image forming device and the second image forming device can be acquired. Further equipped with a print condition receiving means for receiving print conditions for generating a print job,
The print condition receiving means can accept the print condition that defines a partially improbable process that is an image process that can be executed by the first image forming apparatus and cannot be executed by the second image forming apparatus.
The job generation means detects the partially impossible process based on the first device information and the second device information, and generates processed data in which the partially impossible process is executed.
The first job includes pre-processing data before the partial non-processing is executed according to the printing conditions.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second job includes the processed data. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the partially non-processable process includes a page editing process for changing the order of images on a plurality of pages. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the partially non-processable process includes an image conversion process for converting an image. The print condition receiving means can accept the print condition that defines a common impossibility process that is an image process that neither the first image forming apparatus nor the second image forming apparatus can execute.
Claims 2 to 2, wherein the job generating means detects the common non-processing based on the first device information and the second device information, and generates the pre-processing data by executing the common non-processing. The information processing apparatus according to any one of 4. The job generating means according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the job generating means detects the partially impossible process based on the storage capacity available for performing the image process executed according to the print conditions. Information processing device. The storage means is provided in any one of the first image forming apparatus, the second image forming apparatus, the first image forming apparatus, and a server communicably connected to the second image forming apparatus. The information processing device according to any one of Items to 6. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a printer driver program corresponding to all of the first image forming apparatus and the second image forming apparatus is installed. The storage means stores the first job in association with the first device identification information for identifying the first image forming device, and stores the second job in the second job for identifying the second image forming device. The information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, which stores the device identification information in association with each other. A device information acquisition step for acquiring first device information indicating the function of the first image forming device and second device information indicating the function of the second image forming device, and
In response to the user's instruction to generate a job, the first image forming apparatus generates a first job that can be executed based on the first device information, and the second device information is used as the basis for generating the first job. A job generation step that generates a second job that can be executed by the second image forming apparatus,
A device control method for causing an information processing device to execute a storage step of storing the first job and the second job in a storage means in a state in which the first image forming device and the second image forming device can be acquired. A device information acquisition step for acquiring first device information indicating the function of the first image forming device and second device information indicating the function of the second image forming device, and
In response to the user's instruction to generate a job, the first image forming apparatus generates a first job that can be executed based on the first device information, and the second device information is used as the basis for generating the first job. A job generation step that generates a second job that can be executed by the second image forming apparatus,
A driver program for causing a computer to execute a storage step of storing the first job and the second job in a storage means in a state in which the first image forming apparatus and the second image forming apparatus can acquire the first job and the second job.

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